My New Language-Learning Website
If you’ve been visiting Poetry4kids for a while, you probably know that I love writing funny poems for kids. What you might not know is that I also love learning foreign languages, traveling to new places, and finding out about the people and cultures of the world.
Well, I’ve been busy combining those interests into a brand-new project in my spare time, and I’m excited to finally share it with you.
It’s called Blazing Language, and it’s a website that helps people learn foreign languages by listening to interesting podcasts about the world around us.
Don’t worry. I’m not giving up writing poetry! I’ll still be posting new poems here on Poetry4kids, just as I always have. This is simply another creative project I’ve been having fun with.
From Computer Programming to Poetry… and Back Again
Here’s something you might not know about me. Before I became a children’s poet, I was a computer programmer. In fact, I even worked at Microsoft for a couple of years!
When I first created Poetry4kids, I put those programming skills to work building the website. Over the years, I’ve continued to enjoy tinkering with computers and creating things online.
So, when I came up with the idea for Blazing Language, I decided to build it myself. I designed and developed the website, created the systems that produce and publish the podcasts, and put everything together using the same kinds of software skills that helped me get Poetry4kids started so many years ago.
It’s been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. And now it’s ready for visitors!
Why Languages?
I’ve always been fascinated by languages. There’s something almost magical about hearing someone speak in a language you once couldn’t understand and realizing that, little by little, you can follow what they’re saying.
I’ve spent years studying Spanish, and more recently I’ve been working on Portuguese. Italian is next on my list!
I also love traveling, meeting people, trying unfamiliar foods, and learning about different cultures. To me, learning a language isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary or conjugating verbs. It’s about opening a door to another part of the world.
That’s where the idea for Blazing Language came from.
I wanted to create something that would bring together several of my favorite interests: languages, language learning, travel, history, geography, and culture.
And I wanted it to be something I would enjoy using myself.
What Is Blazing Language?
Blazing Language is a collection of podcasts designed especially for people learning foreign languages.
Currently, there are six languages to choose from:
- English
- Spanish
- French
- Italian
- German
- Portuguese
Each language has two levels, Beginner and Intermediate, so you can choose the one that best matches your abilities.
The podcasts are a little different from traditional language lessons. Instead of simply teaching you how to ask where the train station is or order a cup of coffee, they tell you interesting stories about the world.
You might learn about an unusual holiday in another country, a famous historical figure, a fascinating place to visit, or the origins of a popular food.
And here’s the important part: The entire podcast is in the language you’re learning. And it doesn’t just give you listening practice, while listening, you learn about the culture, history, people, and geography of the region where the language is spoken.
The vocabulary, grammar, and complexity are adjusted to your level, so you can practice understanding spoken language while discovering something new.
In other words, you’re learning through the language, not just learning about it.
A Different Way to Practice
If you’ve ever studied a foreign language, you know that understanding spoken conversation can be one of the hardest parts.
You might be able to read a sentence perfectly well, but when someone says it out loud, suddenly all those familiar words seem to disappear!
That’s why listening practice is so important.
Blazing Language is designed to work alongside whatever other language-learning methods you already use, whether that’s a class, a textbook, an app like Duolingo, or conversations with a tutor.
The podcasts give you a chance to put what you’ve learned into practice by listening to interesting, understandable material. And because they’re podcasts, you can listen while taking a walk, exercising, driving, washing dishes, or just relaxing.
Personally, I think learning is a lot more enjoyable when you’re curious about the subject. If you’re interested in what you’re hearing, you’re much more likely to keep listening.
Give It a Try!
You can visit Blazing Language right now and listen to sample episodes in any of the six languages.
There’s also a free blog and podcast about language learning itself, with articles and episodes exploring how we learn languages and how to become better language learners.
For anyone who wants to go further, there’s a Premium membership with new episodes every weekday, Monday through Friday.
Every premium episode also includes a full transcript, translations, a vocabulary worksheet, practice exercises, and answer keys to help you get the most out of each episode.
Membership costs $6.95 per month, and there’s a risk-free, seven-day free trial, so you can explore the podcasts and learning materials before deciding whether to subscribe. You can also switch between languages and levels whenever you like.
Come Visit!
Whether you’re studying a language in school, planning a trip overseas, brushing up on something you learned years ago, or simply curious about other languages and cultures, I hope you’ll stop by and take a look.
And if you know someone who loves languages or enjoys learning about the world, please share the site with them!
I’m proud of what I’ve created, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this new adventure takes me.
Meanwhile, I’ll be right here at Poetry4kids, doing what I’ve always done: writing silly poems about ridiculous things.
After all, there’s no reason a person can’t love poetry, programming, and Portuguese all at the same time!
¡Hasta pronto! Até logo! À bientôt! Ciao!
